‘Hey,’ he said, looping his arm onto the back of my chair so we could both fit in frame. ‘I’m Patrick. I’m your sister’s friend.’

Freddie waved sadly down the phone.

‘Listen. I can tell that you’re really upset. It must feel scary to be in charge of something for Annie and then feel like you’re letting her down. Is that right?’

Freddie dipped her head up and down. ‘Yeah,’ she agreed in a small voice. ‘And I’m scared for Carol.’

Patrick mirrored her body language. ‘A few years ago my dog got lost in the park as well,’ he offered.

Freddie eyed him suspiciously. ‘Are you just saying that to make me feel better?’ she asked.

‘No. I don’t think lying to you would be a very good first impression to make, would it?’

Freddie softened, shaking her head. ‘And what did you do?’

‘It was really unlike him. It had never happened before. He was a little white West Highland terrier called Maktub, and all I did was buy an ice cream from the truck parked nearby. It took me thirty seconds, if that. He’d always been really good at trotting off and then coming back. I even kept turning around to make sure he was there. But then suddenly he wasn’t. I didn’t even get to eat my ice cream because I was so worried. I looked for him everywhere, and asked everyone in the park if they’d seen him.’

Freddie’s eyes had grown wide and curious, but she’d stopped crying. ‘Did you find him?’

‘Not exactly.’

She took a breath, preparing herself to dislike what came next.

‘He found me,’ Patrick pressed on. ‘He was gone for two whole days, and then on the third day I heard a bark at the front door and there he was, just chilling out, on his own. I tried asking him where he’d been, but he was pretty tired.’

Freddie seemed to understand what he was saying.

‘We’ll find Carol,’ I said, sensing that she was able to actually understand me now she’d relaxed. I’d relaxed too – what Patrick had said had soothed me into submission as well.

‘I’ll go out again now, Annie-Doo. She must be out there somewhere. Dad said he’ll come too, once he’s had his cup of tea.’

‘Perfect.’

‘Okay.’

‘I love you.’

Patrick waved goodbye. ‘Good luck, Freddie!’ he said. ‘Try to think like a dog!’

She smiled and then caught herself, as if she didn’t want to be seen as anything other than devastated.

Once we’d rung off I said, ‘That was very level-headed of you. Thank you.’

Patrick smiled. ‘Are you okay? Are you worried?’